Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola (51) is seen during pre-game drills of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

DETROIT >> Dominic Raiola wasn’t surprised when the Detroit Lions drafted center Travis Swanson in the third round 10 days ago.
“I can’t play forever, I wish I could,’’ Raiola said at an event with Bernie Smilovitz at the MGM Grand Detroit on Monday night.
Raiola answered a variety of questions including a few about his teammate Ndamukong Suh who has not been at the voluntary workouts that started on April 7.
Raiola said he’s been in touch with Suh and expects him to be in the fold when the OTAs (organized team activities) start on Tuesday.
He said he knows Suh has been lifting and will show up in shape, adding that he’ll probably look like an “Adonis.’’
Raiola said he thinks too much has been made of Suh’s absence.
“That’s a decision he made,’’ Raiola said.
Perhaps too much has also been made of the Lions drafting
Swanson.
“I welcome him with open arms,’’ the 35-year-old Raiola said.
He said the move didn’t hurt his pride.
“I felt more respected because they know it’s going to take some time to get somebody ready,’’ Raiola said. “Hey, let’s go out and play and get him ready.’’
Raiola said there is no more pressure on him.
“For the team to be successful I have to do my job anyway,’’ he said.
After grading out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 2 center in 2013, Raiola signed a one-year $1.5 million contract in February.
He said it’s obvious the offensive line needed depth and has to have someone ready in case he goes down.
Raiola will be the first to help Swanson learn the ropes.
“I want to make sure he’s ready to go, he knows what he has to do. ...’’ Raiola said. “He’s willing to learn. He’s going to be one of the top seven or eight linemen in there. If something happens in the interior who knows? You don’t want somebody going in there — I’m on this team if something happens to me you want him ready.’’
Swanson, who was a center at Arkansas, told the media on Sunday that he is learning the guard and center positions.
Raiola, a second-round pick by the Lions in 2001, has played in 204 games with 188 starts. He hasn’t missed a start in five seasons and had perhaps one of his best seasons in 2013.
Raiola has been at all the workouts and seems primed for the season under new coach Jim Caldwell. The center thinks he has two or three seasons left in him.
“I want to enjoy some years of winning that’s what I’m looking forward to and I think this is the guy (Jim Caldwell) to do it,’’ Raiola said.